bookrebus Chapter 254 Consort Fucha
Chapter 254 Consort Fucha
Zhen Huan's heart was filled with complex emotions; she felt both anger and resentment.
But no matter how angry and resentful she was, she couldn't change one fact.
She is now deeply entangled in the carefully laid trap set by Fucha Peiyun and finds it difficult to extricate herself.
Zhen Huan slowly raised her head and stared straight at Fucha Peiyun.
It was as if they wanted to see through her appearance to her true inner thoughts.
After a long while, Zhen Huan slowly spoke:
"Your Majesty, I understand."
Zhen Huan took a deep breath and continued:
"Your Majesty, I will do as you wish, but please ensure Yu Rao's safety."
Fucha Peiyun smiled slightly and said in an unquestionable tone:
"Consort Wan, you are a smart person, you naturally know how to choose."
As long as you behave, I will naturally let Zhen Yurao go.
Otherwise, you probably already know the consequences.
Zhen Huan felt as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing down on her heart, making it hard to breathe.
She knew, of course, that Fucha Peiyun's words were not untrue.
With her methods and power, dealing with Yu Rao would be a piece of cake.
Zhen Huan bit her lip tightly, trying her best to remain calm. She took a deep breath and said:
"Your Majesty, I understand. I will do as Your Majesty instructs, but..."
Please grant me some time, Your Majesty, so that I may make proper arrangements.
Fucha Peiyun nodded slightly in agreement, then her tone softened a little:
"I will give you three days."
Within these three days, you must think things through and decide how to proceed.
Otherwise, Zhen Yurao's life would likely be in grave danger.
Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan's heart tightened, but she still forced herself to remain calm and replied softly:
"Yes, I understand."
Seeing this, Fucha Peiyun nodded in satisfaction and said:
"Yes, that's good. You can go back now."
Zhen Huan said "Yes" and then turned and slowly left.
Her steps were heavy, as if she were carrying a thousand-pound burden.
As Zhen Huan reached the door, Fucha Peiyun suddenly whispered again:
"Consort Wan, do not forget that my trust in you is limited."
If you dare to play any tricks, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Zhen Huan paused slightly.
She quickly composed herself and continued walking out of Kunning Palace.
The sunlight shone on Zhen Huan, which should have brought warmth, but she only felt cold all over.
She knew that this time she had no way out.
Only by doing as Fucha Peiyun asked can Yu Rao's life be saved.
Cui Jinxi waited anxiously outside Kunning Palace.
Seeing Zhen Huan come out, she quickly went forward to greet her and asked in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, how is the matter progressing?"
Zhen Huan's face was pale, and her eyes showed a hint of weariness and helplessness. She said in a low voice:
"Let's go back first and talk about it then."
Cui Jinxi's heart sank, knowing that things were probably not going smoothly.
She followed Zhen Huan cautiously, not daring to ask any questions.
Upon returning to Suiyu Pavilion, Zhen Huan instructed Xiao Yunzi to stand guard outside the door while she helped Cui Jinxi directly into the inner hall.
Upon entering the inner palace, Zhen Huan seemed to have lost all her strength.
She sat limply on the tatami, her hands clenched tightly, as if trying to suppress the surging emotions within her.
Cui Jinxi stood beside Zhen Huan, quietly waiting for her to speak.
Time passed slowly, and the room was unusually quiet, with only Zhen Huan's slightly heavy breathing echoing in the air.
After a long while, Zhen Huan slowly raised her head.
Her gaze was somewhat vacant, yet a flicker of determination flashed across it for a fleeting moment.
But beneath that resolute determination lay an unspeakable helplessness.
“Jinxi,”
Zhen Huan's voice was somewhat hoarse, as if she had been suppressing it for a long time.
"We have no way out."
Cui Jinxi's heart tightened; she knew that Empress Fucha must have brought up something that put her mistress in a difficult position.
Otherwise, given her personality, she would never have said such a thing so easily.
"Your Majesty, what exactly did the Empress request?"
Cui Jinxi asked hurriedly, her tone filled with anxiety.
Zhen Huan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and then lowered her voice to say:
"The Empress was actually well aware of Yu Rao's true identity and her real purpose for entering the palace."
The reason she deliberately allowed Yu Rao to enter the palace was to use this opportunity to manipulate us.
Were all those things they did over the years seen by Empress Fucha?
This is terrifying.
Cui Jinxi gasped, her face filled with astonishment, and asked:
"What exactly does the Empress want us to do?"
Zhen Huan frowned, and replied thoughtfully:
"The things the Queen asked us to do weren't particularly difficult."
My only worry is that if we do as she says,
She might discard us after it's all done, or even kill us.
Cui Jinxi was silent for a moment, carefully considering Zhen Huan's words, and then slowly said:
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhao's life is in grave danger; the situation is urgent."
We probably have no other choice but to temporarily comply with the Empress's request.
However, we do need to prepare in advance for the possibility of being dismantled after using someone else's services.
Zhen Huan sighed with worry and said:
"I'm afraid that no matter how we plan, we'll have a hard time escaping the Empress's control."
She was meticulous and skillful, far more capable than the deposed empress.
I honestly don't know how many people in this harem are her spies.
How many of our secrets have she already discovered?
Perhaps she already knew everything about us.
Zhen Huan paused briefly, then continued:
"I suspect that the Nian family has long been colluding with the Fuca family."
She couldn't help but fall into deep thought, recalling various details from the past.
"No wonder no matter how hard I tried to sow discord between Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan back then..."
They remained unmoved and even readily accepted being made empresses.
The tacit cooperation between Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan enabled them to firmly control the entire harem.
No matter how favored we are, we can't cause much of a stir.
Zhen Huan sighed helplessly.
She and her sister Mei were arrogant and self-important; once they entered the palace, they forgot their original intention of bringing honor to their family.
They were so engrossed in that trivial affection and pampering that they completely ignored other, more important things.
In contrast, Fucha Peiyun, who seemed less intelligent, actually thought things through much more clearly than the others.
While she, her sister Mei, and many other concubines in the harem were busy vying for the emperor's favor...
Fucha Peiyun and the Fucha family behind her have begun secretly plotting to seize the throne.
Fucha Peiyun, Nian Shilan, and others were all waiting.
They waited for the sixth prince, born to Fucha Peiyun, to grow up strong and healthy and become someone capable of inheriting the throne.
Meanwhile, the emperor will also gradually grow old over time.
At that time, they can then naturally realize their ambitions.
Zhen Huan's thoughts drifted away as she began to recall when Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan had actually started their alliance.
She remembered that when they entered the palace together, Fucha Peiyun also showed her some favor.
At that time, what Nian Shilan hated most was anyone who tried to steal her favor and power.
Several times, he made excuses to torment Fucha Peiyun
Nian Shilan treated her and Sister Mei the same way.
At that time, Zhen Huan and Mei Jie hated Nian Shilan to the core.
As for Fucha Peiyun, she was born into the Manchu military banner.
She naturally stood on the same side as the deposed empress, who was also a member of the Manchu Banner Army at the time.
Naturally, he also harbored resentment towards the arrogant and domineering Consort Hua, Nian Shilan.
But when exactly did things change?
Fucha Peiyun's change seems to have occurred shortly after she became pregnant.
That is, it only happened after the flower-viewing banquet held by the deposed empress.
The Fucha Peiyun before that flower-viewing banquet was completely different from the humble and reserved Fucha Peiyun now.
Zhen Huan looked at Cui Jinxi thoughtfully and asked:
"Jinxi, do you still remember the flower viewing banquet that made me find out I was pregnant?"
That was my first pregnancy, but unfortunately I trusted the deposed empress and Lady An.
"We couldn't save that child."
Upon hearing this, Cui Jinxi instinctively comforted Zhen Huan.
"Your Majesty, this is not your fault. It's only because the deposed empress and Consort An are too adept at hiding their true intentions."
Then he frowned slightly and began to try to recall the scene.
After a while, Cui Jinxi said:
"Your Majesty, are you referring to that flower-viewing banquet where your face was injured?"
Zhen Huan nodded in agreement.
She continued, "At that time, I didn't realize I was pregnant."
Meanwhile, Consort Fucha, who is now the Empress, had her baby firmly in place.
The purpose of the deposed empress holding that flower-viewing banquet was to seduce the child in her womb.
"Using that white cat named Matsuko to harm Empress Fucha's child"
Upon hearing this, Cui Jinxi was slightly taken aback, a look of sudden realization flashing in her eyes.
Cui Jinxi said:
"Does Your Highness perhaps suspect something after that flower-viewing banquet?"
Did Empress Fucha and Empress Nian reach some kind of tacit understanding?
After pondering for a moment, Zhen Huan slowly shook her head.
She explained:
"Empress Fucha's changes should indeed have started after that flower-viewing banquet."
However, Nian Shilan's situation was different.
At that time, Nian Shilan hadn't changed much and was still vying for favor.
They'll still argue with me and Sister Mei.
Zhen Huan gazed into the distance, seemingly lost in thought, and continued:
"Nian Shilan's changes should have started after she hit the wall and lost her memory."
It seems that Nian Shilan's accidental banging against the wall was due to something Consort Duan said to her back then.
It is unknown what Consort Duan said to Nian Shilan back then.
This actually forced Nian Shilan to choose such an extreme way to escape, which was to bang her head against a wall.
Zhen Huan had a strong feeling that there was a big secret involved, but unfortunately, only those close to Nian Shilan seemed to know about it.
The Emperor may have known that his attitude towards Nian Shilan after that incident was somewhat intriguing.
What did the Emperor do to wrong Nian Shilan?
As Cui Jinxi listened, she recalled the analysis of Zhen Huan and nodded in agreement.
"When Consort Fucha first entered the palace, she was arrogant and shallow-minded, and she trusted the deposed empress very much."
But at that flower-viewing banquet, she must have realized something and began to restrain her temper.
Cui Jinxi added, "And, since then,"
It seems she had the guidance of a wise person behind her, keeping a low profile during her pregnancy and minimizing her presence in the palace.
Zhen Huan continued with a solemn expression:
"Indeed, ever since that flower-viewing banquet, Fucha Peiyun has been secretly plotting her own future."
I had just become pregnant at that time, and I was naturally happy.
So much so that some carelessness inadvertently became her shield.
She attracted the attention of the deposed empress, turning the empress's schemes towards herself.
She bore a resemblance to the woman the deposed empress deeply resented, so naturally the deposed empress could not tolerate her giving birth to a child.
Zhen Huan paused briefly, then continued:
"After Nian Shilan lost her memory by hitting a wall, her personality underwent a significant change."
This may be the opportunity for the two of them to join forces.
Looking back now, I realize they were scheming all along.
Upon hearing this, Cui Jinxi couldn't help but gasp, secretly marveling at the Empress Fucha's deep scheming.
Empress Fucha is truly terrifying; she started plotting ten years ago and has patiently waited until today.
Or perhaps the Fucha family was simply too powerful, truly deserving of its reputation as a prominent Manchu clan.
She chose the wrong person initially, but now she's inextricably linked to Zhen Huan.
This is the only way it can go.
Cui Jinxi frowned, her face full of worry:
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
Empress Fucha's mind is so deep; every step we take seems to be part of her calculations.
Zhen Huan bit her lip, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"At this point, we have no better options."
The most important thing right now is to calm her down and agree to her demands. We must save Yu Rao's life no matter what.
As for other things, we can only take it one step at a time.
However, Zhen Huan was extremely unwilling to bow down to Fucha Peiyun and let her do as she pleased.
She closed her eyes tightly, her mind filled with the image of Yu Rao's unbearable pain, and her heart ached as if it were being torn apart.
Finally, she sighed helplessly, knowing that she had no power to resist.
Zhen Huan has put aside all those romantic relationships over the years.
I have a certain understanding of the Emperor's thoughts.
Cold-hearted and ungrateful, deeply suspicious
He would definitely be wary of the alliance between the Fucha family and the Nian family.
Although she could find ways to make the Emperor suspect Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan
However, she was also keenly aware that if she made the slightest move, Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan would quickly notice.
By then, before the emperor can take any action, Yu Rao's life will likely be in danger.
Even if she manages to find something on them, so what?
The current situation is completely one of being at someone else's mercy; she and Yu Rao are like fish on a chopping board, completely at someone else's mercy.
Even if she could find something on them, what could she do?
Now they are at each other's mercy, like fish on a chopping board.
She should also remind Yu Rao.
After much thought, she felt increasingly that she shouldn't let Yu Rao get involved.
In the first place, she shouldn't have let Yu Rao do those things.
But who could have predicted that Yu Rao had been targeted by Fucha Peiyun from the very beginning?
This is so unexpected!
Fucha Peiyun was like a hunter lurking in the shadows, observing their every move.
But they were completely unaware.
All of his actions were exposed to Fucha Peiyun without reservation.